Keeneland Book 3 Opens With $2M Into Mischief Colt

Book 3 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale began fast and furious Sept. 13, with a colt by Into Mischief bringing $2 million less than an hour into selling. Bloodstock agent Justin Casse signed the ticket on behalf of himself, M.V. Magnier, and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm. M.V. Magnier represents interests from Coolmore. When asked about the appealing characteristics of their $2 million acquisition, Hip 1197, Casse said, "The sire, the pedigree, the individual. He could've been easily in any one of the last few days, and he just ended up in this day, and he was a real standout. He's a beautiful physical with a lot of scope, and obviously by a sire of sires, who can do no wrong." This was Into Mischief's highest-priced yearling of the sale so far, and his sixth to command $1 million or more. The six-time reigning champion general sire is represented this year by Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty. Into Mischief stood the 2025 season for an advertised fee of $250,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington. Casse said if you had asked him five days ago if he would be surprised to pay $2 million for a horse in Book 3, he replied: "Absolutely, but not given the way the last few days have gone. I feel like basically Book 2 was like Book 1 five years ago. Now, I don't know if Book 3 is going to be like Book 2 five years ago, but it's almost like Book 1 was in a whole other stratosphere from what we've seen in the past. "And, the other books have shifted up as far as the value and all of the statistics, as far as what horses are bringing. I mean, there's a real hunger, just waiting to see what lies ahead for Book 3, 4, and 5, because you have a different buyer base coming into town and leaving town, and the pedigrees are a lot different." Gainesway consigned the $2 million colt, who hails from the family of Jaywalk, champion 2-year-old filly of 2018, and grade 1 winner and current Gainesway stallion Tapit Trice—both of whom are under her second dam. She is the second foal of the unraced Empire Maker mare Miss Jessica J, a half sister to Jaywalk and also a $2 million sales horse in 2019 when auctioned during the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Hip 1197 was bred in Kentucky by Al Shira'aa Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds.